Displaced workers and people forced to stay home during the coronavirus restrictions should be able to unlock their own skills with free online training courses, the LNP said today.
LNP Training Shadow Minister and Member for Maroochydore Fiona Simpson has called on the State Government to help workers turn the tough times of home-isolation into new employment opportunities by providing access to short industry-approved online training courses through TAFE and private training providers.
“We must help workers access courses to give them a chance to upskill, gain accreditation, or even identify new career pathways in growth areas where there are jobs,” Ms Simpson said.
“For the hundreds of displaced workers on the Sunshine Coast and throughout Queensland, some will go back to their original industry and sadly some won’t when the worst of this crisis is over. Industry-recognised training that provides real pathways to jobs has to be available to give people a chance to get jobs in growth areas and that’s why I’m lobbying for this to be prioritised right now in Queensland.”
In New South Wales the Government has announced 21 free online vocational short courses for residents and the Federal Government has also opened the way for universities to provide similar opportunities, she said.
“On the other side of this crisis, we want to see our State built back stronger and businesses and workers able to work together to create opportunity for their families and communities. I don’t want Queenslanders to fall behind,” Ms Simpson said.
“There are thousands of workers who may need to shift to new industries where there is still growth and that means they need access to industry-recognised skills and training.
“The health and aged care sectors as well as mining have jobs, but they need skilled workers.
“The State Government needs to work with both private training providers, TAFE and industry to deliver these pathway courses.
“There is a danger that the private training sector will collapse in many areas unless these partnerships are formed now and viable funding pipelines are created to support local training and on-line delivery during travel restrictions.
“We need all hands on deck with training options if workers and businesses are to be supported.
“It needs to be a state-wide program to ensure no worker, jobseeker or training organisation is left behind.
“We’re calling on the Queensland Government to invest in Queenslanders.”
